New plan to take 20 per cent energy savings city wide

After slashing energy use in its own buildings by 20 per cent, the City of Sydney is working out how much energy could be saved across all buildings in Sydney.

The City has signed a contract with energy experts pitt&sherry and Exergy Australia to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions that could be cut by city-wide energy efficiency measures.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said it would be the most comprehensive assessment of the energy efficiency potential of the city’s building stock ever undertaken.

“We’ve cut 20 per cent of energy use in our own buildings,” the Lord Mayor said.

“The challenge now is to make similar or greater savings across the entire city.”

“This plan will show building owners and their tenants just how much they can save on power bills by reducing energy use.”

“Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is the most cost effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

The work, which will form the basis for a new energy efficiency master plan for Australia’s global capital, will look at all building sectors including residential, commercial and small business.

Between 2009 and 2012, energy efficiency retrofits of the City’s own buildings reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent

By upgrading lighting, updating air-conditioning plants, upgrading power management system on personal computers, installing movement sensors and implementing numerous other measures, the City has saved $880,000 a year on its electricity bills.

Many of those who have cut energy use under these programs will be part of the new plan and have a chance to explain the regulatory barriers that can make saving energy difficult.

Phil Harrington, principal carbon and energy consultant at pitt&sherry, said the master plan would help the City reach its target of slashing emissions in central Sydney by 70 per cent by 2030.

“We have extensive knowledge and experience modelling energy and greenhouse gas emissions in buildings and we are confident we can provide the innovative research the city requires to continue its drive to reduce emissions,” he said.

The energy efficiency master plan will help the City meet its ambitious target of cutting carbon emissions by 70 per cent in the next 16 years.

Complementary plans detail the City’s proposals for a network of trigeneration plants (adopted at Council’s last meeting) and a renewable energy master plan (on public exhibition) that could result in the City’s electricity, heating and cooling demands being met by 100 per cent renewable energy by 2030.